The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) warned that the local officials that they could be charged if proven that they have been negligent in distributing the cash assistance from the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP), the DILG spokesperson said on Thursday.

According to Jonathan Malaya, the reports on the supposed negligence of barangay officials in SAP aid distribution would be taken on a case to case basis, the DILG Undersecretary said on his interview on Unang Balita.

Malaya said, “Of course may accountability ang public officials, may MOA (memorandum of agreement) nga sila. But of course we will take this on a case to case basis kasi kailangan muna nating malaman kung ano ang dahilan ng pagkaantala.”

“Baka naman beyond their control at pagganon, we have to give them due process. Pero pag may lumalabas na kapabayaan, hindi talaga nila inasikaso ng maayos, posible talaga silang maharap sa mga administratibo at kriminal na kaso,” he added.

The last day of the distribution of the cash assistance to qualified beneficiaries is on April 30. However, some local government officials have already doubted that they can finish the distribution on that date.

According to DILG Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Dino, local government units already had the cash as early as April 3.

On the other hand, Malaya also said that those qualified families who were not able to receive cash from the first batch of distribution, will get aid in the second batch of distribution.

Malaya said that the list of names was already submitted to the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the government is already looking for funds for this. 

According to Malaya, some details will be formally announced by Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque in a press briefing later.

He said, “Yes po, may malaking announcement ang IATF sa Malacañang, at antabayanan po natin ito dahil nga po sa pangako ng Pangulo na ‘yung mga left-out families, ‘yung mga di naisama sa listahan ng DSWD ay matutulungan din ng pamahalaan especially na naextend ang ECQ… Hinahanapan na po ng pondo ‘yan.”

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